Category: Advent

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

With Whom Is He Pleased?

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Scripture: God’s Roadmap for Our Journey/Luke 2:14; Romans 5:1-11; Isa 9:6

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased!”

Luke 2:14

Oh, the utter beauty of God’s Word and love! How it shines through from the first words of today’s passages to the last. Or perhaps I should say from the last words to the first … as it was Isaiah who wrote about the child who would be born – and be called the Prince of Peace – long before Luke penned the words to the story of the virgin Mary giving birth to her firstborn son in a little town called Bethlehem, and laying him in a manger. It was a story that included not only the angel’s declaration to shepherds in a nearby field but also the song of the angel and the heavenly host “praising and worshiping God, and acknowledging His supreme majesty and sovereignty.1“

  • The Declaration: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
  • The Song: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased!”

The child Isaiah prophesied would be called “the Prince of Peace” was the same child that Mary lay in the manger and of whom the angel’s song declared: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Paul writes of this peace in Romans chapter five, where we read: “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (again, the same child that Isaiah and Luke referred to) – What a wonderful thing to know and understand that faith in Jesus brings peace between God and man. We are no longer condemned as our sins deserved, but we are cleansed, set free from the law of sin and death, and given bold access to the throne of our God. The curtain has been torn in two, and we are covered by the blood of Christ, the lamb of God – the Prince of Peace – the baby born of a virgin, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and found lying in a manger just as the angel said.

Paul also writes some of my favorite words in Scripture concerning peace with God. They are found in Romans chapter five, namely verses 8-11. It is here we read that “God demonstrated His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” … being declared righteous through Christ changed our enmity with God to peace. Paul uses one other word that speaks of peace, and that is reconciliation, which infers peace by its very definition – which is the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement.

 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Romans 5:10

As I observed the Luke 2:14 passage, I remembered something that I noted in an earlier post about the verse, specifically the words, “with whom He is pleased.” It is important to understand here that God’s mercy is available to all who please Him, or as one commentary explains, all who follow His will by believing in/accepting His Son, Jesus.2

  • With whom is God pleased?
  • How often do we declare, like the angels, declarations of praise and worship toward God?
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, my heart rejoices at the peace you have brought to me through Jesus! He truly is my Prince of Peace! May I, like the angel, tell others about Jesus and how to find Him. May I, like the heavenly hosts who appeared to the shepherds, be found giving You the praise and worship You alone are worthy of. May the peace that comes from Christ rule in my heart, for Your Word says that as members of Your body, we are called to live in peace. 💜 – Amen

The More We Know

So, what did Luke mean when he write: with whom is God pleased?” According to Bibleref.com: Most translations of this verse connect the “peace” being proclaimed to God’s pleasure with a certain group. This is alternately phrased as “those with whom he is pleased,” “those on whom his favor rests,” or “people He favors.” The King James translation inverts part of the phrase, indicating a broader “good will toward men.” While the gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of reconciliation and hope (John 3:16–17), that hope is only accessible to those who believe in Him (John 3:18, 36). Accurately translated, the angels are not declaring God’s benevolence to all humanity; they are celebrating His mercy to those who follow His will by accepting His Son (John 6:28–29; Hebrews 11:6).

  1. Online source: churchleaders.com ↩︎
  2. Bibleref.com ↩︎

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Christmas, Devotion, From the Insideout, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Rejoice

A Humble Birth

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Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Luke 2:1-20; 2 Cor. 8:9; Phil 2:5-11

9 You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

2 Cor. 8:9

Jesus was a king, but He did not come wearing a crown, nor was one placed on His head at birth. Instead, the One who was born to save His people from their sins and rule as King forever was born in a humble setting and laid in a lowly manger. As Paul wrote, Jesus became poor so that we might become rich – everything was just as God had meant it to be.

This is the perfect illustration of the second passage for today’s journey, where Paul wrote about Jesus as “one who was rich but became poor for the sake of believers- so that we through His poverty might become rich.” While these words were written to the Corinthian believers, who needed to be reminded of a commitment that they had made to meet the needs of suffering Christians in Jerusalem, they are a fitting reminder for us that Jesus left the splendor of Heaven for a world of poverty, filled with sin, suffering, and death. – Why would anyone do this? Well, not just anyone would – but Jesus did it in obedience to God – of whom John wrote – “loved the world” so much so “that he gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).” We are forever rich because Jesus became poor for us. Ours is a richness not found in the world but in the love, grace, and mercy of God, our Father, who is in Heaven.

“He did this in order to die for the sins of humanity so that all who trust in Him can be forgiven of their sin and one day experience the wealth and security of living in glory with God.” Bibleref.com/2 Cor 8:9

Prayer of Response to the Word

Father, thank You for Your lavish gift of love through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Your Son. Through Him, I have been given the hope of eternity with You, and there is no greater wealth than this! – Amen

The More We Know

Where was Jesus born? Check out these enlightening details here.

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

To Fear or Not to Fear

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based on the LGG Study, Rejoice – Celebrating the Advent of Christ

Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Luke 1:49-50 and 12:1-8; Heb 12:25-29

from generation to generation He is merciful to those who fear Him.

Luke 1:50
Observations and Applications from Our Journey

The long and short of it is this … my sins deserved death, and nothing I do or say can change that. But, in love, God sent His Son – who knew no sin – to die for me so that my sins might be covered by His blood. There is no greater love, there is no richer mercy – and they flow deep and wide from generation to generation to those who “fear Him.”

To Those Who Fear Him…

After reading today’s passages, all of which mention or elude to “fearing God,” one thought came to mind: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This, of course, led me on a little “Scripture squirrel hunt.” which began in Proverbs 9:10, where we read: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” For those of you who know me, you know the hunt didn’t stop there. Because, – while I knew that the basic meaning of fearing God is reverential awe, I wanted to know more and see how/if this thought that had now captivated my mind intertwined with our journey today.

My journal page was quickly filled with notes from my own thoughts, to quotes from gotquestions.org and other verses that came to mind. Most of which, I will attempt to convey here, for the greatest impression I hold from the hunt is this vital truth: “Without the fear of the Lord, we make final decisions based on our faulty human understanding.”

Without the fear of the Lord, we make decisions based on our faulty human understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6). When we incorporate the fear of the Lord into every moment of our lives, we make decisions based upon His approval. We live with the knowledge that the Creator of the universe is intimately involved in our every move. He sees, knows, and evaluates all our choices, and we will answer to Him (Psalm 139:1–4).

Our respect for God’s majesty causes us to honor Him (Psalm 29:2). Our gratitude for His mercy causes us to serve Him well (Psalm 2:11; 107:15). And the understanding that our God of love is also a God of wrath inspires enough fear to help us stay away from evil (Romans 1:18; Proverbs 8:13). Sin is foolish; righteousness is wise. When we live righteously, we are on the path to wisdom, and everyone in our lives benefits (Proverbs 13:20; 19:8).

So, if fear is vital to our Christian walk, it stands to reason that we must understand what it means to fear Him. As gotquestions.or points out, “‘In the Bible, the word translated ‘fear’ can mean several things.” The commentary gives examples of each and concludes that “The fear of the Lord is a combination of all of these.”

  • The terror one feels in a frightening situation (Deuteronomy 2:25).
  • It can mean “respect” in the way a servant fears his master and serves him faithfully (Joshua 24:14).
  •  Fear can also denote the reverence or awe a person feels in the presence of greatness (Isaiah 6:5).

Those who fear the Lord have a continual awareness of Him, a deep reverence for Him, and sincere commitment to obey Him.

gotquestions.org

So, how do we live with a continual awareness of God? How do we maintain a deep reverence for Him and sincerely commit to obeying Him? I believe the answer lies not just in knowing who God is but in being in a relationship with Him. When we ‘walk and talk’ with God daily, we will know what pleases Him and what does not. We will make decisions based on how He feels about something rather than our own understandings and desires.

Our respect for God’s majesty causes us to honor Him (Psalm 29:2). Our gratitude for His mercy causes us to serve Him well (Psalm 2:11; 107:15). And the understanding that our God of love is also a God of wrath inspires enough fear to help us stay away from evil (Romans 1:18; Proverbs 8:13). Sin is foolish; righteousness is wise. When we live righteously, we are on the path to wisdom, and everyone in our lives benefits (Proverbs 13:20; 19:8).

gotquestions.org

To be clear, the ‘fear’ believers are to have of God is not one of terror in the sense that we are terrified to approach Him, but we must understand and respect the fact that while He is a God of love, He is also a God of wrath- Jesus makes this clear in the words found in Luke 12:5-7, where we read: But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. 6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid(of man)*; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

*But Jesus has told believers not to fear these hypocrites. At their very worst, they can only kill the body. Instead, they ought to fear a God who will mete out eternal death to those who refuse to repent. It is God who will send sinners to hell, and it is God who knows every sparrow (Luke 12:1–6).

Bibleref.com/Luke 12:7

If you have not placed Your faith in Jesus Christ, I urge you not to wait. For as the passages of today’s journey point out, God delivered judgment on those who ignored His warnings. As the journey revealed today, it is even more foolish to ignore the warning from Christ and the invitation of His Gospel message to believe in Him and be saved from death to everlasting life. (Jn 3:18 and Romans 6:23) If you would like to know more about the journey from death to life, check out “Know These Truths”

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, Holy is Your name. You are a God of love and of wrath, both welcoming us into Your presence and imposing a sentence of death on all who do not come to You through faith in Jesus Christ. I praise You, Lord of Heaven and Earth, that I do not have to tremble before You but can enter into Your courts with praise and bow before You in reference and awe of who You are and what You’ve done. I pray for those who are lost to hear the truth from Your Word and turn to You in faith, receiving life over death – Amen

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

Because He Has …

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based on the LGG Study, Rejoice, Celebrating the Season of Advent

Scripture: God’s Road Map For Our Journey / Luke 1:46-49; Matt 11;25-30;1 Cor 1:18-31

because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant. For from now on all generations will call me blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

Luke 1:48-49
Observations and Applications of the Journey

Just in case you’re thinking, ‘Wait, didn’t we just read this yesterday?’ and wondering if I put down the wrong reference … yes, we did read this yesterday, and no, I did not give you the wrong passage for today’s journey. We will actually be reading portions of Luke 1 throughout the week, ingraining into our minds and hearts the rich history of our Savior, born of a virgin, a lowly handmaid, to save an undeserving people. Why? Because, as Mary said, “God has looked upon the humble state of His servant…” and “because God who is mighty has done great things for us, and holy is His name.”

And Mary said,

“My soul exalts the Lord,
47 and my spirit has begun to rejoice in God my Savior,
48 because he has looked upon the humble state of his servant.
For from now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 because he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name;

Luke 1:46-49. NET

You see, Mary boasted in the Lord because she realized that God did not have to choose her. He could have chosen a woman of nobility, but instead, He chose her, a lowly handmaid/servant, to carry His Son – The Messiah – into the world. I don’t believe that Mary was looking down on or belittling herself here; I believe she was looking up to her God. Mary hadn’t just heard the words of the angel, Gabriel; she had believed them and given great thought to them. She considered what they meant about God, about herself, and about what it meant for the world both then and for the generations yet to come. So, when Elizabeth proclaims how blessed Mary is, Mary responds by exalting the Lord and rejoicing in Him because He is mighty and He has done great things for her. As was mentioned in the previous post, this is not about Mary, and she realizes it – this is about God and what He has done for her. Friends, we would be wise to realize this same truth in our own life.

After reading/dwelling on this for a bit, I was hit by a barrage of questions in my mind. They are both challenging and convicting to me – but such is the word of God: “For it is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.”1 I am confident the Holy Spirit prodded me with these questions because I needed to hear them, but perhaps someone else needs to consider them as well.

  • IF I WERE TO LIST THE GREAT THINGS GOD HAS DONE, WOULD THE LIST START WITH AND CENTER AROUND HIM OR ME?
  • WOULD OTHERS FACTOR INTO THE LIST OF THOUGHTS?
  • DOES MY SOUL MAGNIFY/EXALT THE LORD?
  • DOES MY SPIRIT REJOICE IN GOD, MY SAVIOR?
  • DO I REALIZE MY “LOWLY ESTATE” AND UNDERSTAND HIS GREATNESS?
  • DO I UNDERSTAND THAT HE HAS CHOSEN ME TO CARRY HIS SON’S MESSAGE TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD?

Have you, like Mary, come to know how exalted and holy God is? Do you know how small and sinful you are in comparison, and how much mercy and grace He has poured on you through His Son, Jesus Christ? Think about it: the infinitely great and perfect God has chosen you to be His beloved daughter. He has lifted you out of your sin and depravity. He has promised you eternal glory in heaven by your faith in Jesus. You are highly valued and infinitely loved by Him. May we, like Mary, rejoice in God’s holiness.

Rejoice Journal / p105
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Holy Lord, most holy Lord – You alone are worthy of my praise! Like Mary, I am captivated by Your beauty and filled with joy in Your presence. I do not forget who I was and how You have changed me from the inside out – making me a new creation in Christ Jesus. Because of Your love and mercy, I have been set free from condemnation. Because of Your grace, I have been set free from the chains of sin and the fears that once bound me. There is no end to Your faithfulness and no boundaries to Your greatness! Of this, I am certain, and therefore, I have hope. – Amen

The More We Know about the journey

Instead of being scared of this mighty, exalted, and holy God, Mary was captivated by His beauty and filled with joy in His presence. His greatness has not kept Him from doing great things for her. God could have chosen the daughter of the king or high priest to give birth to Jesus. He could have chosen a girl who was rich, beautiful, educated, and admired. But, unlike us, God is not impressed by these attributes. Mary herself says that she was a “humble state”, meaning she was probably a nobody in her community, overlooked by the important people, an insignificant servant. And yet, the holy God chose her, a peasant girl from Nazareth, to be the mother of the Messiah. Mary was amazed that God would be so great and yet see somebody as low as her.

Love God Greatly, Rejoice Journal / p105

How do you see yourself? Do you think more of yourself than you should? Or do you see yourself in light of God’s greatness and realize your “humble state”? – Consider the words of Paul in Romans chapter twelve, verse three: Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Paul understood that unless we see ourselves as we truly are, we will struggle to trust that we can do what He has gifted/called us to do. – I encourage/urge you to click here to read the commentary by bibleref.com for Romans 12:3 – it’s a game-changer you won’t want to miss.

The Truth About Our Journey

God used Mary to deliver Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, into the world. Through Jesus, we are given the opportunity to have a relationship with the great and holy God that Mary proclaimed in her beautiful song of praise. Do you know know Him today? If not, I invite you to read Know These Truths and find out how you can share in this life-changing faith – If you do know Him, will you please help me share these truths with others who need to know the love of Jesus?

  1. Hebrews 4;12 ↩︎
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

The Magnificat

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based on the 2024 LGG Advent Study, Rejoice, a Celebration of Advent

Today’s Scripture God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Luke 1: 26-56 (46-47) and 1 Peter 1:3-12

And Mary said “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Luke 1:46-47. ESV

Has anyone ever said a blessing or a prayer over you and you didn’t know what to say – other than thank you? What we read today and will focus on throughout the week is Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s blessing over her.

Mary’s response to Elizabeth’s blessing is most often referred to as the Magnificat or Mary’s Song. According to gotquestions.org, the Magnificat is a poem of praise to God for His blessing to Mary and His faithfulness to Israel.

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”

Luke 1:30-34. ESV

As one can only imagine, the shock and awe of the Angel’s announcement to Mary that she would give birth to the long-awaited Messiah was still ‘fresh’ in her mind. However, here in today’s passage, we read the sweet reflection of her heart and mind and see a beautiful picture of God giving her peace – as we read, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior-.”

If we stop there, we are left to wonder how this young girl, a virgin, engaged to be married and given a message that she would miraculously become pregnant and give birth to the promised Messiah, could possibly be rejoicing. Luke’s detailed account of Mary’s song answers the question as she goes on to say, “Because God has looked upon the humble state of His servant.”1

For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. Luke 1:46

Some may misconstrue Mary’s statement, “For from now on all generations will call me blessed,” to be about her, but instead, it is an acknowledgment that what God was doing through her was to be “an example of His grace for all generations.” Take a minute to reread her song; you will note that it is clearly a praise to God, a song that points people to Him – the only One worthy of our worship and able to hear/answer our prayers. 2

Today’s LGG journal entry explains Mary’s joyful praise in a beautiful way: “Mary’s heart was full of joyful praise because she looked to God, the One she knew would be with her and help her. Being full of faith, she was able to see beyond her immediate, challenging circumstances and meditate, instead, on the great deeds of God, past, present, and future. Her spirit was not filled with worries, fears, and the trifles of life. Her spirit soared above as she fixed her eyes on God, her Savior, and what He had done for her.”

Prayer of Response to the Journey

borrowed and shared from the Rejoice journal, p99

Lord, let our minds be increasingly filled with You, Your character, and Your deeds. Amen

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

Light from Heaven

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based on the LGG’s Advent Study, Rejoice/ w1d5

Scripture: Luke 1:76-79(78-79); Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 1:40-45

Because of God’s tender mercy,
    the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Luke 1:78-79
Observation and Application from the Journey

Today’s journey takes us through three short and beautiful passages that reveal the message and essence of God’s love and beauty. Take a minute and check them out – you will see just how tenderhearted and full of mercy God is. You will see the power and love and light of our Savior, and if you look closely at the last two passages, you will see the depth of what He endured on our behalf. Look even closer at the last passage, and you will see the importance of our obedience and the impact our disobedience can have on the gospel message.

Luke reveals more of Zechariah’s song of praise, where he describes God as tenderhearted and merciful, and because of this, He sent Jesus, who lit up the dark world and gave all who would believe in Him a way to be set free from the penalty our sins deserve and instead receive eternal life.

The author of Hebrew reveals Jesus as our Great High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses because “He, Himself, has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sinning.” Because of this, we are able to “confidently approach His throne of grace and receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.”

Finally, and perhaps my favorite portion of today’s journey, are the words Mark writes about Jesus healing the leper. I love knowing that while Jesus could have simply spoken, and the man would have been healed, He first reached out and touched the leper. However, there was one other thing that really jumped out to me from the story; – Jesus gave instructions to the healed man, actually Mark writes that after the man was made clean, “Immediately Jesus sent the man away with a very strong warning – not to tell anyone, but to go, show himself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” But the man did not obey, not only did he not go to the priest but he began to tell everyone what Jesus had done. This may easily be seen as unimportant to the story or to us, but don’t miss this important truth: Because the man did not obey the warning Jesus gave him, Jesus’ ministry was adversely affected. – As best described by the bibleref.com commentary:

The man healed of leprosy doesn’t understand the significance of Jesus’ command, so he doesn’t follow it. There’s no way to know what spiritual damage he caused, but it had a direct influence on Jesus’ ministry. For the time being, Jesus can’t enter a town, stay at a friend’s house, or go to the synagogue. He has no problem going to lonely, desolate places to pray and spend time with God the Father, but now He lives in the wilderness, with His growing crowd. Instead of defining the context of His ministry, He’s forced to work with what He has. As a result, He accumulates crowds that can only be fed by miracle (Matthew 14:15; 15:33) and has no place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20). …Even though Jesus heals the man and makes him ceremonially clean, the man still has free will, and he uses it. We do the same thing when we think we know best and ignore God’s commands. God can redeem any situation that comes about because of our disobedience. And yet, that doesn’t mean the outcome will be as good as it could have been. The initial failure of Israel to enter the Promised Land is a classic example: God redeemed the situation, but the nation suffered forty years of loss and wandering before finally achieving their goal. Very often, we don’t know the reasons for the rules given in the Bible. But we should trust the One who gave them enough to follow anyway.

Read the full commentary @ Bibleref.com

The way we live can have a positive or negative impact on the Gospel. 🦋

Posted in Advent, Bible study, Christmas, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Rejoice

The Power of Christ

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For he has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.

Luke 1:69

In my late twenties, not too long after my salvation moved from a religion to a relationship, I began really studying the Scriptures and quickly learned that the meaning of God’s Word can be found within His Word. Today’s passages are prime examples1. For instance, Bibleref.com shares many references that explain the horn of salvation and connect the dots to David. The commentary explains that “In biblical texts, “horns” are symbolic of power (Psalm 75:10; 89:24; Numbers 23:22; Daniel 7:7; Revelation 17:12). Referring to Jesus (Luke 1:31–33) as a “horn of salvation” (Psalm 18:2) echoes the idea that Messiah will be from the lineage of David (Psalm 132:17; Jeremiah 23:5). When Hannah, mother of the prophet Samuel, praised God for her son’s birth, she used similar phrases (1 Samuel 2:10).” – That’s what I call Scripture squirrels, and while they can take up a lot more time, I’ve realized through the years that they add so much to my time in the Word by helping me to understand what I read.

As we read Zechariah’s declaration of “the horn of salvation” in Luke 1:69, we come to understand, by his reference to “the house of God’s servant, David,” that the “horn of salvation” refers to the Messiah who would redeem His people from their sins. This Messiah is the same baby Jesus born in a manager, fully man but fully God, The God of power and of might, who conquered the grave and crushed the enemy – and continues to give us power over the enemy today! Paul’s prayer for the Colossians was that they would be strengthened with all might according to the glorious power of Christ. This is the same power that Peter writes about when he wrote about the divine power given to believers that would enable them to live a godly life and escape the corruption of this world. Just as John was born to Zechariah and Elizabeth as the angel promised, the promise of the Messiah was realized when Christ was born in Bethlehem, and with that birth came all the power and love of God.

“With the arrival of Jesus, God’s power has broken into our world. He is the risen Lord. He lives. He is here. He is with us, and He is our strength. In faith, we can connect our weak lives to His mighty power, counting on His help and experiencing Jesus as the Horn or our Salvation.”

Rejoice Study Journal/p47

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4
A Prayer of Response

Jesus, as I am reminded daily – You are my strength when I am weak. Your Spirit empowers me to overcome the enemy, to stand firm in temptations, and to endure the troubles of this world. As Paul prayed for the Colossians, I pray for this group and all Your people throughout the world that -in these troublesome times, as we wait for the return of the Messiah, the Hope of Heaven – we will be strengthened with all His glorious power so we will have all the endurance and patience we need – and be filled with joy, to Your glory and honor – Amen!

Read More verses on the power of Christ, available to all who belong to Him
A Beautiful Song to Celebrate Jesus, our Messiah, strong and kind.

Posted in Advent, Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Rejoice

Blessed be the Lord

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Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

Luke 1:68

How we spend our time has a direct impact on our relationship with God. Today, as we begin our focus on the advent of Christ, let’s pause and consider how we spend our time. Specifically, how much time does God factor into our day? Does He encompass all areas of our lives or only those times set apart for reading His Word or praying? Or, perhaps He’s relegated to Sunday mornings only?

Check out this suggestion from today’s LGG Journal entry on the how and why of alone time with God: “If we want to meet with God and be filled with the Holy Spirit, it is vital that we spend time in prayer and meditate on God’s Words. We are surrounded by so much noise that it often takes great discipline and a firm resolve to switch off the TV, put away our phones, go into our room, close the door and – in the stillness – spend time alone with God.”

When Zechariah learned that Elizabeth was pregnant, the reality of Gabriel’s words would have erased even a smidgen of doubt that may have remained in Zechariah’s mind. From his response of obedience and rejoicing following the birth, it seems evident that he had not turned away from God but had drawn all the closer to Him. Zechariah clearly believed all that the angel had said, and he set an example of a life that includes God in all areas. We see this when the baby was born; Zechariah not only celebrated the birth of his son but also, after nine months of silence, his first words were used to bless God and then to speak of the evidence of the coming of the long-awaited Messiah.

Friends, may we practice factoring the Messiah into the whole of our lives. Whether we are on the mountaintop or in the valleys of suffering or troubles, in our times of silence, concerns, or doubts, may we not turn away from Him but draw all the closer to Him – so that at the end of every day, whether we find ourselves celebrating or lamenting, we are found praising God and looking forward with hope.

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Promised Messiah

The Promised Messiah

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Today’s Scripture is Luke chapter 2. (SOAP verses 10-12)

but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12

Oh, how I love this chapter of the Bible, the cast and characters of Christmas on grand but humble display. Shepherds and angels, Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus, Simeon and Anna the prophetess who had both faithfully waited for the promised Messiah … Each of them a beautiful part of the Christmas story – the Advent of our Christ.

I know it’s easy to zero in on the soap passage, but I invite and encourage you to read each verse with fresh eyes and an undistracted mind that takes it all in as though it were unfolding before you on a stage with all the pageantry of Christmas. Walk with Mary and Joseph on the streets of Bethlehem, see the baby lying in the manger, Mary and Joseph in awe and wonder of it all. Listen with the shepherds to the angelic announcement and to the army of angels proclaiming – “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will to men!” Hear the words of Simeon and Anna the hope fulfilled and the worship that poured forth. I pray that it will lead you, on this last day of our journey, to stop and worship Christ, the new born King – saying with the angels – “Glory to God in the Highest!”

“Rejoice rejoice of Christian, lift up your voice and sing – Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King – The hope of all who find Him …” the long awaited and promised Messiah! May we, like Simeon, find ourselves saying, “-my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all people: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And, and like Anna – may we give thanks to God and speak about the Messiah to all who need the salvation He came to bring.

Going Further

Be sure and visit LoveGodGreatly.com for today’s blog post

Posted in Advent, Advent, Bible study, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, The Promised Messiah

Salt and Light

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based on the Love God Greatly Advent study, The Promised Messiah / w4d4

Scripture: Luke 1:57-80 / SOAP verses 68-71

This is like a segment from the memorable Paul Harvey and his segments known as “The Rest of the Story.” Previously in Luke’s story we learned of an angel named Gabriel who appeared to a priest who was serving in the Temple, with an announcement that the priest and his wife, both very old, would have a son, whom they were to name John; and John would be the messenger for the coming Messiah. Which of course, is exactly where the story picks up today. Elizabeth gives birth to a son and she named him John. Their neighbors and relatives rejoiced with the miraculous birth but questioned the name she gave since it was not a family name. Zechariah, though still mute because of his disbelief in the angelic proclamation, confirms by writing on a tablet – “His name is John.” Scripture says that Zechariah immediately regained his speech and blessed God and then, filled with Holy Spirit, he prophesied, saying:

“Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has visited and redeemed his people.
69 He has sent us a mighty Savior
    from the royal line of his servant David,
70 just as he promised
    through his holy prophets long ago.
71 Now we will be saved from our enemies
    and from all who hate us.

Luke 1:68-71

I love this response and am quite convicted by them. Zechariah’s words, his first words spoken in months, weren’t a story about what had happened to him but they were about God. They were words of praise that would have brought to the people’s minds God’s long awaited promises to His people – promises of a messenger (Malachi 3:1), a savior (Isa 7:14 and 9:6; Micah 5:2), and of salvation from sin (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

“But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. . . . Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Gotquestions.org

I see several applications as I read through and study this passage. Certainly we learn the importance of believing and obeying God’s word. I also noticed and was reminded of the importance of keeping our minds on God, whether we are in the midst of hard times or celebratory ones. The ultimate example being how in all of the excitement of the birth of a son to a couple well beyond the years of having a child – the fulfillment of the angel’s message – and the return of his speech – Zechariah’s focus remained on God. Undoubtedly, this was a result of the the filling of the Holy Spirit – but let us remember, this is the same Spirit that fills us who have believed, the Spirit of whom Paul said bears within us the fruit of self-control. Both of these examples lead me to the third, you see – because Zechariah believed and obeyed God, evidenced in his naming the child John, Zechariah was given back the ability to speak and maintaining his focus on God, even in all of the excitement, his words poured forth a beautiful prophesy that pointed the people to God and what He had done and was yet to do. The combination of these examples led me to this ultimate application – when we obey God and keep our minds on Him – what pours forth from our lips will be about what He does or has done in the past – it stirs up thought and attention to who He is and what else He can and will do. Thus, we become the salt and light God has called us to be.

Reflection For the Journey

God undoubtedly saw Zechariah and Elizabeth in their years of pain and longing. He was merciful despite their mistakes and used both to encourage their community and make His name great. He is the same God today. What might He be working to restore in your life, even to your longing or momentary unbelief?

From the LGG devotion journal, p 134 / The Promised Messiah